April 9, 2002
8:43 AM Subscribe
The Balance Born to destroy, and thus maintain the balance.
Subvert all on a whim, this alone is my talent.
It just needs to be done, quite a good enough reason.
Evil's my name, and I'm always in season. ©ES
This post was deleted for the following reason:
I'm having trouble with the tone here -- should I read it in the cadence of Charlie Daniels, Eminem, or Maynard G. Krebs?
posted by rcade at 8:58 AM on April 9, 2002
posted by rcade at 8:58 AM on April 9, 2002
I don't get it, bunnyfire. What's the point? The theme is tired, and the writing's not even that good.
posted by starvingartist at 9:01 AM on April 9, 2002
posted by starvingartist at 9:01 AM on April 9, 2002
Ecks....ellent.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:01 AM on April 9, 2002
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:01 AM on April 9, 2002
I wondered what Tony Robbins had been up to lately.
posted by Kafkaesque at 9:07 AM on April 9, 2002
posted by Kafkaesque at 9:07 AM on April 9, 2002
um...ok.... It's just another teenage angst diatribe. I'm pretty sure many of us around here wrote the same type of dark depressing mess in our teens/early 20's. It reads like a reject from "pretty hate machine".
posted by mkelley at 9:22 AM on April 9, 2002
posted by mkelley at 9:22 AM on April 9, 2002
"I am angling desperately for compliments on my self-consciously overheated and masturbatory prose."
posted by Skot at 9:24 AM on April 9, 2002
posted by Skot at 9:24 AM on April 9, 2002
I don't get it, nor do I understand the theme. Could you help me out, please, Ms. Reagan?
posted by daveadams at 9:31 AM on April 9, 2002
posted by daveadams at 9:31 AM on April 9, 2002
Please allow me to introduce myself,
I'm Tyler Durden.
I got very confused in the gray vs. black and white part, it seemed to contradict itself into circles.
I agree with UncleFes, except I'm guessing early twenties, possibly just graduated college, definately a liberal arts major. With a little bit more clarity this could be quite good, maybe the author will focus this into a novel or something. That or they've seen Fight Club a dozen too many times.
BTW, Bunnyfire, you fascinate me.
posted by joemaller at 9:34 AM on April 9, 2002
I'm Tyler Durden.
I got very confused in the gray vs. black and white part, it seemed to contradict itself into circles.
I agree with UncleFes, except I'm guessing early twenties, possibly just graduated college, definately a liberal arts major. With a little bit more clarity this could be quite good, maybe the author will focus this into a novel or something. That or they've seen Fight Club a dozen too many times.
BTW, Bunnyfire, you fascinate me.
posted by joemaller at 9:34 AM on April 9, 2002
Well, to be honest, I saw something in that piece of writing that was genuine.
We can't all be T.S. Eliot....when it comes to what i like sometimes I go more for the raw and the real...there is more than one scale of judging a work. Otherwise most of us might as well give up and never write a sentence or play a note or place brush on canvas...go back and read that work again, ignore the flaws and see if you can grasp what the writer is saying.
Or go to the next post. Whatever. You won't hurt my feelings. At least it was work safe-unlike my evil twin Miguel's latest offering....
posted by bunnyfire at 9:42 AM on April 9, 2002
We can't all be T.S. Eliot....when it comes to what i like sometimes I go more for the raw and the real...there is more than one scale of judging a work. Otherwise most of us might as well give up and never write a sentence or play a note or place brush on canvas...go back and read that work again, ignore the flaws and see if you can grasp what the writer is saying.
Or go to the next post. Whatever. You won't hurt my feelings. At least it was work safe-unlike my evil twin Miguel's latest offering....
posted by bunnyfire at 9:42 AM on April 9, 2002
This is the kind of thing you read ten years later, wince, and wonder how you could have written such horrible crap. All writers go through this phase: you experiment with the language, with some truly horrible results. Some writers never emerge from this phase, while others grow out of it and do wonderful things.
posted by mrmanley at 10:04 AM on April 9, 2002
posted by mrmanley at 10:04 AM on April 9, 2002
That was awful... Just awful. Nothing positive or constuctive I can say about it.
I guess it's best left here as a warning to others.
posted by SweetJesus at 10:19 AM on April 9, 2002
I guess it's best left here as a warning to others.
posted by SweetJesus at 10:19 AM on April 9, 2002
So some no talent doofus dropped acid and listened to Sympathy for the Devil 5000 times while reading a thesaurus. Okeedokey.
posted by Mack Twain at 10:36 AM on April 9, 2002
posted by Mack Twain at 10:36 AM on April 9, 2002
Well, I DO have to confess i found it when I googled pastel suited jackels.
But I still stand behind it, awful as you all seem to have found it, as a Serious Artsy Post.
I was hoping we would discuss the point-the blending of black and white into grey. However, since it seems now I would have to write my own work, then buy a link from matt to avoid self linking, it ain't happening, baby. By then I will be in a better mood and writing about kittens or some such drivel. While listening to Enya.
Feel free to skip to the nearest post on suicide bombers. Better luck next time.
posted by bunnyfire at 10:50 AM on April 9, 2002
But I still stand behind it, awful as you all seem to have found it, as a Serious Artsy Post.
I was hoping we would discuss the point-the blending of black and white into grey. However, since it seems now I would have to write my own work, then buy a link from matt to avoid self linking, it ain't happening, baby. By then I will be in a better mood and writing about kittens or some such drivel. While listening to Enya.
Feel free to skip to the nearest post on suicide bombers. Better luck next time.
posted by bunnyfire at 10:50 AM on April 9, 2002
As long as we're posting poetry......
My friend wrote this in high school, probably while doped out on amphetamines. I think it still rings true today though -
Pouring Salt on an Open Wound
(with increasing intensity)
I do sing the snarling egret,
Herald of the scalding buskin,
Purple phosphate of the ferret,
My eyes, ears, nose, throat.
For I am the tall tree
Swaying in the wind,
Blown by the wind of authority.
Blow me, authority.
Blow me down!
Empty aethers of the nether,
What will you have of me?
Neither, either, never, ever.
Ever do I dance the chronic belfry
Of the hundred forbidden steps of Banffian indulgence.
For I am the Bisquick jockey,
Undergarment of the maharajah!
And I scream!
And I scream!
But, alas, it's just as I feared.
The walls, they aren't listening,
And the people have no ears.
Damn you, Uncle Lester!
Scream, Uncle Lester!
Ahhhh!
Ahhhh!
I cried when I typed that.
posted by SweetJesus at 10:54 AM on April 9, 2002
My friend wrote this in high school, probably while doped out on amphetamines. I think it still rings true today though -
Pouring Salt on an Open Wound
(with increasing intensity)
I do sing the snarling egret,
Herald of the scalding buskin,
Purple phosphate of the ferret,
My eyes, ears, nose, throat.
For I am the tall tree
Swaying in the wind,
Blown by the wind of authority.
Blow me, authority.
Blow me down!
Empty aethers of the nether,
What will you have of me?
Neither, either, never, ever.
Ever do I dance the chronic belfry
Of the hundred forbidden steps of Banffian indulgence.
For I am the Bisquick jockey,
Undergarment of the maharajah!
And I scream!
And I scream!
But, alas, it's just as I feared.
The walls, they aren't listening,
And the people have no ears.
Damn you, Uncle Lester!
Scream, Uncle Lester!
Ahhhh!
Ahhhh!
I cried when I typed that.
posted by SweetJesus at 10:54 AM on April 9, 2002
Poetry bombers....are you thinking what I'm thinking?
posted by bunnyfire at 10:59 AM on April 9, 2002
posted by bunnyfire at 10:59 AM on April 9, 2002
So start, bunnyfire. What do you want to talk about? I reread this thing three times, and I still don't really understand what he's trying to say. Obviously it has some kind of signifigance for you, but you're doing the same thing you always do: you hint that you have something great to say, but you wait for us to drag it of you with a team of horses. What does this dreck say to you that it seemingly does not to the rest of us?
posted by starvingartist at 11:01 AM on April 9, 2002
posted by starvingartist at 11:01 AM on April 9, 2002
That depends.... I've got a bizarre and depraved mind, so probably not.
posted by SweetJesus at 11:02 AM on April 9, 2002
posted by SweetJesus at 11:02 AM on April 9, 2002
UncleFes- Ironicly, I didn't even think of that. I pretty much just copied the poem word for word from an e-mail he sent me a few years ago.
Would have been funnier if I noticed before I posted.
posted by SweetJesus at 11:04 AM on April 9, 2002
Would have been funnier if I noticed before I posted.
posted by SweetJesus at 11:04 AM on April 9, 2002
Jeez, starvingartist, have a Coke and a smile, why don't ya?
posted by brittney at 11:15 AM on April 9, 2002
posted by brittney at 11:15 AM on April 9, 2002
Hey, I'm not upset. I'm just trying to see what's up. Bunnyfire obviously wants to talk about this, so why can't she start?
posted by starvingartist at 11:20 AM on April 9, 2002
posted by starvingartist at 11:20 AM on April 9, 2002
So start, bunnyfire. What do you want to talk about? I reread this thing three times, and I still don't really understand what he's trying to say. Obviously it has some kind of signifigance for you, but you're doing the same thing you always do: you hint that you have something great to say, but you wait for us to drag it of you with a team of horses. What does this dreck say to you that it seemingly does not to the rest of us?
I think the poem and Bunnyfire and both saying the same thing, loud and clear - "Pay attention to me!!!"
Honestly... The self-referential posts and cutesy emoted southern mannerisms are getting to be too much. It seems every time I read a thread on this site, it's either partially or fully derailed midway though, thanks to Bunnyfire.
Don't take this as a direct attack Bunnyfire, but you need to tone it down a little. When you post, make your argument, instead of talking about how you would make your argument but you're smiling or Christians-turn-the other-cheek-and-don't-argue, or that we-all-know-what you're-talking-about-so-we-can-guess-at-your-point, or I-would-talk-about-the-subject-but-I'm-not-so-there, etc, etc...
Those type of posts are rarely helpful, and (especially on the religious threads) smack of a holier-than-thou attitude, like you're looking down on us. Just take some of the constructive criticism that people have given you (I know you got a lot before you were banned for a month) and run with it. If you do, I'm sure you'll get a lot less flack on the boards from people like me.
posted by SweetJesus at 11:21 AM on April 9, 2002
I think the poem and Bunnyfire and both saying the same thing, loud and clear - "Pay attention to me!!!"
Honestly... The self-referential posts and cutesy emoted southern mannerisms are getting to be too much. It seems every time I read a thread on this site, it's either partially or fully derailed midway though, thanks to Bunnyfire.
Don't take this as a direct attack Bunnyfire, but you need to tone it down a little. When you post, make your argument, instead of talking about how you would make your argument but you're smiling or Christians-turn-the other-cheek-and-don't-argue, or that we-all-know-what you're-talking-about-so-we-can-guess-at-your-point, or I-would-talk-about-the-subject-but-I'm-not-so-there, etc, etc...
Those type of posts are rarely helpful, and (especially on the religious threads) smack of a holier-than-thou attitude, like you're looking down on us. Just take some of the constructive criticism that people have given you (I know you got a lot before you were banned for a month) and run with it. If you do, I'm sure you'll get a lot less flack on the boards from people like me.
posted by SweetJesus at 11:21 AM on April 9, 2002
Well, I read it from the viewpoint that the narrator was Evil talking. The point being made was that "evil" from the viewpoint of the coffeedrinker depended on his viewpoint: here I could interject for an example the Israelis versus the Palestinians. In other words- who are the good guys? who are the bad guys?
Now I don't know the worldview of the writer of this piece but i am fascinated because of my worldview. You go back to the Garden of Eden. You got the Tree of Live versus the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil....you know, most people never stop to think that the tree God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat of was not named the Tree of Evil.... there are very deep theological reasons for that that I won't get into here.
I could go on and on but frankly I am so used to being used for target practice here that I think I won't. My method of reading poetry might be weird but I always got A's in advanced English in college-but then I always did know how to bs.
I guess i saw those thoughts in the writing and was fascinated. Sorry nobody else was. I will try to stick to established writers next time-for one thing I don't want this writer to be discouraged by the criticism. I see worthwhile stuff there-and eventually it will out.
posted by bunnyfire at 11:22 AM on April 9, 2002
Now I don't know the worldview of the writer of this piece but i am fascinated because of my worldview. You go back to the Garden of Eden. You got the Tree of Live versus the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil....you know, most people never stop to think that the tree God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat of was not named the Tree of Evil.... there are very deep theological reasons for that that I won't get into here.
I could go on and on but frankly I am so used to being used for target practice here that I think I won't. My method of reading poetry might be weird but I always got A's in advanced English in college-but then I always did know how to bs.
I guess i saw those thoughts in the writing and was fascinated. Sorry nobody else was. I will try to stick to established writers next time-for one thing I don't want this writer to be discouraged by the criticism. I see worthwhile stuff there-and eventually it will out.
posted by bunnyfire at 11:22 AM on April 9, 2002
Jeez, could have fooled me into thinking this was Maya Angelou's material.
posted by Mach3avelli at 11:24 AM on April 9, 2002
posted by Mach3avelli at 11:24 AM on April 9, 2002
Thanks, bf. Now we're getting somewhere.
I think it's pretty obvious that the narrator is supposed to be "evil" incarnate. What I don't like is the pseuo-Christian qualities he gives to this evil, i.e. a lot of references to hell and other like concepts. Personally, I don't believe in a hell, or one person or entity responsible for the world's suffering. I think that's a stupid concept. As for the good-or-evil depending on your point of view thing, well yeah, that's been a philosophical point of discussion for as long as philosophy's been around. To quote Shakespeare's "Hamlet", "There is nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so."
As for the Garden of Eden stuff you reference, I don't know Genesis very well, so I can't comment, except for the part about the name of the tree. Unless you can read Genesis in the original language it was written in, expounding on the significance of the name of the tree is, I think, a moot point.
posted by starvingartist at 11:34 AM on April 9, 2002
I think it's pretty obvious that the narrator is supposed to be "evil" incarnate. What I don't like is the pseuo-Christian qualities he gives to this evil, i.e. a lot of references to hell and other like concepts. Personally, I don't believe in a hell, or one person or entity responsible for the world's suffering. I think that's a stupid concept. As for the good-or-evil depending on your point of view thing, well yeah, that's been a philosophical point of discussion for as long as philosophy's been around. To quote Shakespeare's "Hamlet", "There is nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so."
As for the Garden of Eden stuff you reference, I don't know Genesis very well, so I can't comment, except for the part about the name of the tree. Unless you can read Genesis in the original language it was written in, expounding on the significance of the name of the tree is, I think, a moot point.
posted by starvingartist at 11:34 AM on April 9, 2002
You know, you run this stuff through the burnmaker, and suddenly it makes a lot of sense. Especially SweetJesus' epic "Pouring Salt on an Open Wound".
It seems to make some instinctive changes to "the balance":
"Subvert all on a whim, this alone is my talent."
becomes
"Subvert all on a goddamn whim, this bullshit alone is my shitty talent."
Ah, the joy of debating a purely subjective literary form such as poetry. You can always count on 100 people having 100 differing opinions on it. While I don't consider it pure "drivel", I don't like 4 line poems followed by long lectures. If the author didn't feel the poem made the point strongly enough, then it wasn't a very good poem.
posted by Salmonberry at 11:39 AM on April 9, 2002
It seems to make some instinctive changes to "the balance":
"Subvert all on a whim, this alone is my talent."
becomes
"Subvert all on a goddamn whim, this bullshit alone is my shitty talent."
Ah, the joy of debating a purely subjective literary form such as poetry. You can always count on 100 people having 100 differing opinions on it. While I don't consider it pure "drivel", I don't like 4 line poems followed by long lectures. If the author didn't feel the poem made the point strongly enough, then it wasn't a very good poem.
posted by Salmonberry at 11:39 AM on April 9, 2002
go back and read that work again, ignore the flaws and see if you can grasp what the writer is saying.
I can't.
you know, most people never stop to think that the tree God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat of was not named the Tree of Evil
Sounds like a good argument for censorship and getting rid of public education!
*lights torch*
posted by daveadams at 11:39 AM on April 9, 2002
I can't.
you know, most people never stop to think that the tree God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat of was not named the Tree of Evil
Sounds like a good argument for censorship and getting rid of public education!
*lights torch*
posted by daveadams at 11:39 AM on April 9, 2002
starvingartist, we have one of those study hebrew inter linear things for the old testament in the house, plus a hebrew scholar in the church we attend. we have tons of study aids because we agree, if you can't go back to the original language, you lose a lot of the meaning and nuance. But that is getting away from the point I guess.
My point about the tree is that man is so caught up about "good and evil" he fails to see that any "good" outside the will of a loving God turns into a heap of rags. But then we get into theology again...
the problem is that I do see everything thru the lens of theology pretty much, and don't mind discussing it calmly. But I understand if you'd rather not, since that seems to be where this is headed.
posted by bunnyfire at 11:52 AM on April 9, 2002
My point about the tree is that man is so caught up about "good and evil" he fails to see that any "good" outside the will of a loving God turns into a heap of rags. But then we get into theology again...
the problem is that I do see everything thru the lens of theology pretty much, and don't mind discussing it calmly. But I understand if you'd rather not, since that seems to be where this is headed.
posted by bunnyfire at 11:52 AM on April 9, 2002
daveadams, if you are making a point, I have failed to see it. My children are at the public high school this very minute, actually.
posted by bunnyfire at 11:55 AM on April 9, 2002
posted by bunnyfire at 11:55 AM on April 9, 2002
No, it's fine, I'm curious to know what you mean. For some reason I find the idea of evil as a supernatural force repugnant - the idea of good as a supernatural force I find merely, for lack of a better word, unnecessary. You don't, obviously. So what do you mean by, "[the idea of good] outside the will of a loving God turns into a heap of rags"? Surely you can't mean that there's a definitive proof behind that? Cause then we get into the same argument as evolution vs. creationism. You can't prove there's a god, and I can't prove there isn't. You believe good and evil are dictated by some supernatural, all-powerful being. I think that's a capricious, irresponsible idea, and good and evil are dictated by our actions.
I'm currently rehearsing "Inherit the Wind", about the Scopes Monkey Trial, and there's a great passage in the play about measuring our actions against an arbitrary grid of morality, in latitudes of right and longitudes of wrong. I like that idea.
posted by starvingartist at 12:01 PM on April 9, 2002
I'm currently rehearsing "Inherit the Wind", about the Scopes Monkey Trial, and there's a great passage in the play about measuring our actions against an arbitrary grid of morality, in latitudes of right and longitudes of wrong. I like that idea.
posted by starvingartist at 12:01 PM on April 9, 2002
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...but all my Evilness will have to wait until after I get out of study hall, since Ms. Crabapple is such a Hitler. Tr3ncHc04+ m0b rU|_3Z!
posted by UncleFes at 8:54 AM on April 9, 2002